The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-20
THE THIRTEENTH JUROR.

For days and days the case had dragged
along. 1t had taken long time to exam
inc the numerous witnesses. Then the
lawyers had to be heard, and finally his
Honor had delivered charge of extraor-
binary length and profundity.
felt relieved when / entered the jury
room with my eleven companions. Surely
we could come TO g decision in few min
utes.
To my mind. everything was perfectly
clear. The defendant, Msx Steinley, was
guilty OF murder. True, no human eye
had seen him commit the crime, but the
circumstantial evidence was dead against
him.
1 formed an unfayorable opinion of Stein
way from the first. He was foreigner,
little past middle age, strikingly handsome,
but with sinister CLEAN in his cold gray
eyes. Our plain country people did not
like his ways. He never mingled with his
neighbors, and there was naughty, repel-
liant air about him that offended strangers
and all alike.
We rather resented the coming OF this
man into orr old-fashioned community,
where one man was regarded as the equal
of any other man, and where great stress
was laid upon neighborly virtues. But we
could not help ourselves. We could not
even make life pleasant for poor Mrs. Stein
way, and we felt sure that the unfortunate
lady needed the sympathy and society of
the outside world.
Mrs. Stelnway was pale and thin enough
when she moved into the gloomy old
house which her husband had purchased,
but es the months passed on she grew still
paler and thinner. She never smiled, and
it was easy to see that she stood in deadly
fear of her proud. stern master.
The Steinways continued to live in their
solitary way. The village was only mile
from their place, but they did not visit it
more than three or four times year. OF
course people talked about them. We
wondered who they were, where they came
from, and what they were doing among US.
1t leaked out that Steinway was little
cranky on various scientific subjects He
spent most of his time studying chemistry
and electricity. When We heard this we
gave him up. Science and book-learning
were rather below par in our bailiwlck,
| and we had wholesome dread Of cranks.
The murder did not surprise people. 1t
| seemed natural that something horrible
should occur at the Steinway cottage.
JEFF Gilmer and Lige Peake caught the
murderer in the very act, although, as
| said before, nobody saw the man do the
deed. Gllmer and Peake were returning
! home in the twilight, and just as they were
passing little summer house arrangement
in Steinway's yard they heard a wOman's
cry for help. They leaped over the fence,
and rushed to the SPOT, but they were too
late. Mrs. Steinway's dead body was lying
on the ground and her husband was rising
to his feet with bloody dagger in his
| hand!
This made a powerful impression on the
trial. The servants swore that the dagger
| belonged to Steinway, and, in fact, it bore
| his name on the handle. They swore, too,
that the husband and wife lived uuhappily,
snd that Steinway had frequently threat
ened his wife. Against all this there was
| nothing but the prisoners statement. He
denied the alleged ill-treatment of his wife,
but said that she had shown symptoms of
mental arrangement for some time, and ne
| had been compelled to watch her closely
and restrain her movements. On the even
ing of the tragedy, he said that he heard
the cry in the summer-house. He flew
there, and to his horror found his wife
dead with dagger plunged to the hilt in
| her breast. 1t was while ne was drawing
the weapon from the wound that Gilmer
and Peake had come upon him.
Such, in substance, was the story told in
the court room, and this IS what we twelve
men were locked up to decide upon.
1t was after dark when we entered upon
our deliberations. We had no candles and
they were not needed. Through two win
dows the moonlight streame1 into the
room, making it as bright as day, except in
the corners and around the edges.
HE is guilty Of murder" spoke one oil
jurors in a brisk, aggressive way. There
can be no doubt of it."
Certainly" said another
"Ot course" l chimed IN.
"Why did we leave the box at alp asked
the man next to me. Our minds were
made up when we heard the evidence"
This was telling lick. Country juror:
aate to admit that the speeches of the law
yers and the Judges charge aid them in
arriving at conclusion.
A general chorus of voices expressed the
most positive belief in the prisoners guilt
well" remarked the foreman, las it is
unanimous, I'll Just knock on the door
and have the court notified that We have
agreed upon our verdict. No fun in stay
ing here all night, you know"
'You are too FAST" said a Juror in one
of the Swallowed corners. 1.-THE evidence
is very fer from convincing me that Stein
way is guilty. 1t only points that way
but it leaves a reasonable doubt, and it i!
our duty TO discuss all the testimony
calmly and fairly"
81 beg your pardon" replied the fore
man dissppointedly. 81 thought we haC
heard from everybody and that we were
all of the same mind. We are ready II
hear you"
Again the voice from the shadow SPOKE
out
Let us put away our prejudice" sale
the speaker. ut must be admitted tina
deep down in our hearts we have cher
ished an unfriendly feeling toward thi
man. He is foreigner. He is selfish auC
proud. He dislikes us, and so we dislike
him. Now that he is in trouble We fee
disposed to believe everything that il
against him, and nothing that he says fo
himself. 1t is natural, but is it right"
took the floor and protested agains
such reflections upon our integrity and in
telligence.
Several others followed me on the same
line.
''Ha hal" laughed the juror in TIT
shadow. Don't deceive yourselves. I'm
aeine one of us-our foreman, tor in
stance-in the prisoners place, and yol
would acquit him at once"
Itwas center shot, and it demoralizeC
US.
"Well, yes" answered; "because if hi
told Us that he had found his wife dead
and had drawn the dagger from her body
and explained the alleged ill-treatment, |
story supported only by the testimony o.
ignorant negro servants, by saying that h'
bad TO restrain her on account OF her men
tai condition, / should believe him, be
cause 1 have always known him to b'
truthful and kind-hearted."
r'Good" exclaimed the man who wa
arguing with us. "Well, my friend, moth
ing whatever is known of the character o
| this man Stairway You are to presumi